Ian

So, shall we expect you about march/april, then? No, seriously, good luck with it. Might try and do the same. Shall we have a competition - whoever stays away longest wins a coffee?

Funnily enough, I went to see a friend this weekend, and he had three of Mr Deida's books waiting in his pile of semi-read stuff. I skimmed one of them pretty thoroughly, think it was "way of the superior man" or something like that. As the quotes you post above suggest, he has quite an interesting take on true yang and true yin, and a pleasantly controversial way of putting it. But very little actual practice. My friend said his "technique" book was directly lifted from chia, even down to the diagrams, without acknowledgement. What my friend recommended, which I've since ordered two copies of cos it's great, was a book by Diana Richardson. This has been published as "The Love Keys" and also as "The Heart of Tantric Sex." The latter is more likely to be available as a cheap paperback, but it's the same book either way. She acknowledges Barry Long and Osho as her main influences, and makes the teachings very accessible. There is another book of hers called "tantric orgasm for women", which doesn't have quite the same spark, but more material about breasts, which is always nice. Happy trails, I

I reckon the whole idea of merit is complete nonsense, for several reasons. That doesn't mean that that it isn't nice, or at least fairly harmless, that the things people do for merit get done. But there are a couple of big problems with it. Giving stuff away is a nice practice, which many teachers have encouraged, because it's a good habit-breaker. People are selfish. Having to be generous is an excellent opportunity for agonised self-observation. And it is good not to be mean, because being mean enhances a sense of separation between oneself and the rest of existence. But that's all. But that's all folks. It's been corrupted. There is no scoreboard. There is no admin department. The only way a sense of your supposed merit could be recorded or adjusted is through the level of your own self-knowledge. That's all there is. How far out of little you and into big life you are. So this idea of accumulating merit for one's own future benefit is not merely daft, but actively counter-productive, in that it furthers your idea of a separate self. (And of a coming future.) If we feel good about ourselves, feel that we deserve success in meditation, we're more likely to enjoy it. But that's all. Let's not kid ourselves.

Thank you. I think that about covers it !! On a very small scale I have recently noticed in my sitting practice that being open to my immediate environment, like just two yards or so around in every direction, makes a big difference. I'm able to be more open to whatever happens next. Feel a bit daft for not having noticed before how physical and spiritual openness go hand in hand. But hey, humility is endless, as the man said. Cheers, I

I think the little toe is urinary bladder. One thing with feet I really enjoy is just holding the big toes in my hands and just feeling/listening inside them. After a few minutes it gets all mobile and nice. BTW, thanks for the tip on the mindfold. Just got it today and it's really useful. Normally when I close my eyes to do stuff there's a tightness there. But with this thing I can just look into the dark and after a bit the eyes close on their own, gently. Nice one. Though I think I'll make my own next time, now I've seen the shape of it. Cheers, I

My questions: Do you believe that each individual has a purpose? What do you consider necessary preparation for circulating sexual energy in the body? Are you able to stop thinking? Do you value this ability? What do you believe happens to the individual upon physical death?

By a remarkable "coincidence" I once woke up, sweating and terrified, on the morning of a day when I was going to a fusion workshop, from a dream in which I had killed my father, and had been killed for doing so. Never connected the two before. Am still scared of most people and still crap at fusion. Interesting.....

Yeah, Summertown can be a bit sorta dry sherry, we are not amused. But they pay their gardeners well up there, if you can speak the language. I'm on the cool bit, the Cowley road area (naturally ). Was in the Inner bookshop last Saturday, but I tend not to stay there any longer than necessary in case I break out in spending. Catweazle is in it's "9th glorious year" according to the posters. I got lots of folky friends do stuff there regularly. I like it here too. Just moved back after 9 months in London, which kinda sucked. Give us a shout if you come by again.

YES !!! Yes yes yes yes yes!! YES!!! Yes! Yes!

Damn, she just won't stay buried, will she? I guess Hallowe'en is as good a time as any for zombie hounds to stalk the earth. Will try to persuade the computer of my new identity. Cheers, I

Resources I recommend, organised by person. Sifu Yap Soon-Yeong of Penang, Malaysia (See link in links section.) Books: Energy Medicine in CFQ Healing Energy Meditation, Healing the Body, Freeing the Spirit Tao of Healing: The Incredible Golden Light Energy Better, tho, by far, to spend some time with him if you can. He travels quite a bit, notably to Europe and Canada Dirk Oellibrandt Many of you may already know Dirk. www.dumai.org Burgs www.justsitstill.com Barry Long www.barrylong.com Barry Long died in December 2003. He has left an enormous resource of books and audio and video tapes. His message is uncompromising and often unwelcome, as befits a spiritual master. You may especially dislike his "Making Love" tapes. I don't want to list everything of his which I recommend here. Feel free to ask. I assume most of you are already familiar with Ron Diana and Michael Winn and their material. Hope this list is of use to you.